The train was traveling south along the eastern shore of Loch Ness, moving along tracks carved between steep mountain cliffs and the vast lake surface.
Outside the window stretched the magnificent yet desolate scenery of the Scottish Highlands.
The dark green lake water reflected sparkling ripples in the morning light, while distant mountains were shrouded in lingering mist, appearing mysterious and solemn.
Inside the train compartnt, Veteran William was ticulously maintaining his two reliable companions with a soft linen cloth.
anwhile, the scholar Alistair had fallen into a frenzied academic fervor.
He had spread his thick notebook across his lap and was rapidly transcribing the experiences and speculations from the past two days—enough to overturn the entire history of mysticism—into lines of text using a quill pen.
Lin Jie leaned against the window, his gaze not staying within the compartnt but piercing through the glass to deeply contemplate the mysterious, profound lake hiding its secrets outside.
Beneath that calm water surface slept a great, benevolent life.
He was still savoring the grand yet peaceful pulse he had felt when connecting with that ancient existence through Reverberation Touch.
At that mont, the smoothly moving train emitted a sharp, tallic screech of friction and braking!
"SCREEEECH——!!"
Accompanied by violent shaking, the entire train ca to an abrupt halt on this deserted lakeside track.
"What happened?!"
All three n in the compartnt were startled by the unexpected stop!
Sergeant William reacted fastest, gripping his Winchester rifle tightly the mont the train stabilized and warily looking out the window.
Panicked and confused commotion erupted inside and outside the carriages.
Conductors ran back and forth between compartnts, loudly reassuring frightened passengers.
"Please remain calm! Stay in your seats! There may be track issues ahead! Engineering staff are conducting ergency inspections!"
However, Lin Jie's attention wasn't on the so-called "malfunction" at all.
His gaze was locked intently on the surface of Loch Ness just dozens of ters from the tracks beside them!
The lake, calm as a mirror in the morning light, was now "arching" upward in a way that completely defied fluid dynamics!
This wasn't a wave or a whirlpool.
It was more like... more like a massive "presence" rising from the lakebed beneath the water!
It didn't break the surface, but rely the water displacent caused by its broad back was enough to form an ever-rising "water mound" in this area of the lake!
This magnificent and sacred sight drew simultaneous gasps of disbelief from passengers who happened to glance outside.
"It's the..."
The old scholar Alistair trembled with excitent, pressing his face tightly against the cold window glass, his eyes filled with burning tears.
"It's the great 'Guardian Deity'! It... it hasn't left! It... it seems to have been waiting here specifically for us!"
Lin Jie's heart began beating uncontrollably too.
He could perceive a gentle, benevolent spiritual field slowly emanating from the center of that "water mound."
And that field's "gaze" pierced through the train's steel shell, tenderly "staring" at their small compartnt.
It wasn't waiting for them.
It was "calling" to them.
"William, Mr. Alistair, we need to get off."
The three n didn't hesitate further.
Ignoring the conductors' panicked attempts to stop them, they quickly jumped from the carriage connections onto the temporarily halted train during the confusion.
When their feet touched the gravel-covered lakeshore ground, they could finally witness this "divine miracle" before them in a more direct and shocking way.
The enormous "water mound" continued rising slowly, its peak nearly reaching the height of their tracks.
Through the translucent water, they could vaguely make out a mysterious outline flowing with blue starlight swimming within.
It didn't ascend further.
It seed to know what uncontrollable commotion and panic would erupt if its massive true form were completely exposed to these mortals.
It simply separated sothing from its "body" in an extrely gentle manner, then used a soft water current—also composed of lake water—to steadily deliver that object to the shallow lakeshore before the three of them.
It was a handful of scales that seed to have crushed and infused the entire Scottish Highlands night sky within them, emitting a dreamy azure glow!
They lay quietly on the water-darkened black pebbles.
The powerful spirituality, possessing water's tolerance and protective resilience, made the surrounding air feel fresh and sweet.
After presenting this "gift," the massive "water mound" on the lake surface gradually flattened, just as it had appeared.
The enormous spiritual field that had enveloped the entire area and halted the train also dissipated.
The three n stood dumbfounded on the deserted lakeshore, watching the restored calm water.
"It... it knew we were leaving..."
Alistair was already sobbing uncontrollably, extending hands trembling violently with emotion to reverently cradle the cold, life-filled "divine scales" in his palms.
"This is a farewell gift."
Sergeant William walked to the tracks, crouched down, and gently ran his fingers over the steel rail marked with deep scratches from the ergency braking.
Confusion showed in his eyes.
"I've killed people, and I've killed UMA. I always believed we hunters walked in darkness, using violence to eliminate 'anomalies' that threatened humanity."
The veteran's voice carried threads of self-doubt.
"But now I'm uncertain. Are we driving out threats, or have we disturbed a true 'Guardian' who should be worshipped?"
No one answered his question.
Lin Jie silently walked to the lake's edge, gazing at the bottomless water.
He hadn't just obtained precious materials—more importantly, he understood for the first ti the word in I.A.R.C.'s full na that he had always overlooked, the one preceding "Research" and "Containnt."
"Anomalous" didn't entirely equate to "evil."
It also encompassed "sacred," "great," and "understanding."
"Alright, we should probably leave now, the train will depart soon." Having realized this, he turned and spoke to William and the scholar.
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